Valved floor drain fitting and a strainer therefor



Jan. 20, 1959 E. F. HOWE- 2,

VALVED FLOOR DRAIN FITTING AND A STRAINEIR THEREFOR Filed July 13, 1956 13 a6 a y 64 a? Q 24 27 g [I17 Q IN V EN TOR.

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VALVED IFLGUR DRAKN FITTING AND A ETRAINElt THEREFOR Eli-a F. Howe, Chicago, lllL, assignor to Velma Rea Howe, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 13, 1956, Serial No. 597,741

14 laims. (Ci. 210-429) This invention relates to a floor drain fitting and in particular to such a fitting having integral valve means.

In floor drains of conventional construction, open communication is had at all times with the sewer sys tem to which the drain is connected. Such an arrangemcnt has proven to be disadvantageous in that material. such as sewage and sewer gases may be forced upwardly through this opening and over the surrounding floor. Such a condition is not only disgusting, but highly unsanitary and conducive topoor health conditions. i

Another problem arising from such an arrangemen is that certain forms of animal life infesting the sewer and inter-connecting disposal system have unimpeded access through this opening into the basement or other structure in which the drain is located. It is well known that such animal life carry bacteria and other disease producing germs and thus the need for eradicating such a problem is obvious.

The principal feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved floor drain fitting having integral valve means.

Another feature is that the valve means is readily movable between a closed position and an open position.

A further feature is that the valve means is readily operable by the simple movement of an operators foot, to dispose the valve as desired in either of the closed and opened positions.

Still another feature of the invention is that the means for transmitting movement from the operator to the valve comprises a strainer arranged for preventing the passage of undesirable material, such as lint and fibers,

into the drain.

A still further feature is that the above-described strainer comprises a basket readily removable fro-m the fitting for removal of the collected strained material.

Yet another feature is that the fitting is arranged to be substantially flush with the upper surface of the door, and is adapted for use with a standard drainpipe.

A yet further feature is that the valve includes a spherical ball formed of resilient material and adapted to seat on an annular seat fixedly secured to the drain.

Still another feature of the invention is that the ball is carried by a rod extending therethrough and with means on the rod for adjustably limiting the force with which the ball is urged against the seat in the valveclosed position.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a drain fitting em bodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical diametric section thereof, with the elements thereof disposed in the valve-closed position;

Figure 3 is a vertical diametric section thereof simi lar to ure 2 but with t1 e elements disposed in the valve position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings, a drain fitting generally designated 10 is shown to be mounted on the end of a floor drain, illustratively comprising a conventional cast iron ferrule 11, so as to be substantially flush with a floor 12. A strainer 13 is disposed across the outer end of fitting 1d, and is operably connected to a movable valve 14 for efiiecting alternatively valve-closed and valveopened relationship with an annular valve seat 15 forming a fixed portion of fitting 10. To bias valve 14 to a closed position, spring means 16 is provided, adjustable means 17 being additionally provided for adjustably limiting the seating force.

When valve 14 is positioned in the valve-closed position by the action of spring means 16, as best seen in Figure 2, strainer 13 extends slightly above the surface of floor 12. By means, such as placing ones foot over strainer 13 and pressing it downwardly, spring 16 is overcome and valve 14 is moved to a valve-opened position, such as seen in Figure 3. To maintain the fitting in the valve opened condition, a catch 18, herein disclosed as an annular lip, is disposed around the upper end of the fitting and extends radially inwardly so that by slight lateral movement a portion of strainer 13 may be positioned under lip or catch 18, thereby holding the strainer in the inner position. When it is desired to close the valve, the strainer is merely moved laterally to a central position relative to the catch, whereupon the action of spring means 16 is effective to move the valve member 14- to the closed position and strainer 13 to the slightly projecting position of Figure 2.

The general structure of my drain fitting having been indicated, I will now describemore fully the specific construction of the elements thereof. The main housing member of fitting 10 comprises a tubular jacket 1Q which may be formed of suitable corrosion resistant material such as brass. At the inner end of jacket 19 is fixedly secured, by suitable means such as orazing, a generally tubular support member 20 which is provided with a radially iuturned inner end forming valve seat 15 A guide bar 21 extends diametrically across jacket 19, being fixedly secured to the outer end of support member 2% by suitable means such as screws 22.

Extending axially of jacket 19, loosely through an opening 23 in bar 21 is a threaded rod 2 Valve 14 comprises a resilient ball diametrically mounted on the inner end of the rod 24, with co-acting nut means 25 and 26, forming a part of adjustable means 17, being provided for adjustably fixedly securing ball 14- longitudinally of the rod. A third nut means 27, also comprising a portion of adjustable means 17, is adjustably secured to the rod outwardly of means 26 but. inwardly of bar 21 and acts to limit the longitudinally outward movement of the rod. Thus, the force transmitted from spring means 16 to ball 14 may be limited accurately and adjustably to that necessary to effect a proper sealing closure against seat 15. As shown, nut means 27 may comprise a double nut arrangement providing self-locking action.

Strainer 13 ismounted over the outer end of rod 24 and comprises two elements, namely, an outer basket 28 and an inner center guide 2-9. Basket 28 comprises a foraminous cup-shaped member preferably formed of a material such as brass and is provided with an open top 30 and a transverse bottom portion 31 having a central opening 311; through which rod 24 is adapted to pass freely. To support the basket on rod 24, a nut means 32 is adjustably threaded on the rod outwardly of guide bar 21. A spring cap 33 is placed over rod 24 inwardly of nut 32 and in abutment therewith. Spring 16 extends between cap 33 and guide bar 21 under suitable compression for urging rod 24 longitudinally outwardly until abutment of nut means 27 with the guide bar (as best seen in Figure 2) is effected. The positioning of each of the nut means 25, 26, 27, and 32 on rod 24 is thus adjustable so that the positioning of strainer 13 relative to the floor 11- when the valve is in the closed position, the tensioning of spring means 16 and the positioning of ball 14 on the rod may be correlatively efiected.

Center guide 29 comprises a plurality of relatively small diameter, parallel tubular elements 34 arranged concentrically around a central longitudinally extending tubular element 35. Element 35 is similar to elements 34 but extends axially of the guide to a point. below the latter elements to rest on basket bottom 31 and is arranged to receive freely the outer end of rod 24-. To form center guide 29 into an integral unit, the tubular elements may be fixedly secured to each other by means such as brazing.

A relatively large diameter tubular enclosure 36 concentrically surrounds tubes 34 and 35 and a plurality of longitudinally extending pins 37 are fixedly secured to the outer periphery of enclosure 36 to extend below tubes 34 and enclosure 36 and space the inner ends of tubes 34 substantially above perforate basket bottom 31. Pins 37 further serve to space enclosure 36 concentrically inwardly of the cylindrical side wall 38 of basket 28 to form an annular space 37a therebetween and maintain the perforate side wall freely accessible for liquid flow at all times. The disposition of pins 37 is such that center guide 29 is freely removable from basket 28 when de sired, while having a sufficiently snug fit to allow the center guide to properly center the basket 28 on the rod 24. Pins 37 are further arranged to support the center guide so that the outer ends of tubes 34 and enclosure extend slightly above the outer end of top 30 of basket 28 whereby the center guide may be easily grasped by the fingers and removed from the basket when desired.

The outer end of ferrule 11 may be interiorly threaded as at 39 for receiving exteriorly threaded retaining ring 40 to which the fitting jacket 19 is fixedly secured by means such as brazing. Annular catch 18 may be formed integrally with ring 40 to. extend radially inwardly there from. Thus, the entire drain fitting may be threadedly inserted or removed from ferrule 11 as desired, allowing simple maintenance of the fitting.

With fitting 10 installed as seen in Figure 2, the sewer line terminating in ferrule 11 is effectively closed, preventing reverse passage of liquids, gases and animal life from the sewer over the surrounding floor 12. Thus the drain may be unattended without fear of back flow due to flood conditions, sewer stoppage, or similar conditions. When it is desired to utilize the drain for the disposition of liquids therethrough into the sewer, the operator need merely urge strainer 13 with his foot tothe inner position of Figure 3, moving the strainer slightly laterally so that top 30 catches under catch 18, valve 14 thereby being moved from seat and allowing the free passage of liquids through the fitting. Strainer 13 prevents the inadvertent loss of articles by their falling into the drain and passing into the sewer, while being readily removable for the elimination of lint and other material collected therein. As the positioning of strainer 13 is adjustable on rod 24, the projection of the strainer above the surface of floor 11 may be effectively minimized as desired, and, if desired, by suitably dimensioning the longitudinal thickness of catch 18, the strainer may be received fully below the outer surface of retaining ring at While free movement between the various elements of the fitting is allowed by the loose fits therebetween, the centering action of spring means 16 in cooperation with the spherical valve 14 tends to maintain a vertically aligned arrangement with the movable elements disposed generally coaxially of jacket 19. Such arrangement allows for continued fool-proof operation of the device with minimum maintenance. Further, because of the simple constructionrequiring no close tolerances in the manufacture thereof, manufacture is simple and economical.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be received in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the floor and the inner end of said member, provided with a valve seat; support means extending across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a rod extending axially of said tubular member andfreely through said support means; a movable valve element secured to the inner end of the rod; stop means on the rod outwardly of the support means; biasing means extending between the support member and the stop means to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said valve element on said valve seat; a foraminous member carried on the outer end of the rod and arranged to move the rod longitudinally inwardly when the foraminous member is moved inwardly longitudinally of the tubular member; and catch means associated with the tubular member for releasably holding the foraminous member in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space said valve element away from the valve seat.

2. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be re ceived fixedly and co-axially in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the floor and the inner end of said member provided with an annular valve seat; a support member extending transversely across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a rod extending axially of said tubular member and freely through said support member; a ball secured to the inner end of the rod; 2. stop on the rod outwardly of the support member; spring means extending between the support member and the stop to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said ball on said valve seat; a foraminous basket carried on the outer end of the rod to project slightly outwardly from said tubular member and arranged to move the rod longitudinally inwardly when the basket is moved longitudinally into the tubular member;

and catch means on the tubular member for releasably holding the basket in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space the ball away from the valve seat.

3. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be re ceived fixedly and co-axially in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the floor and the inner end of said member provided with an annular valve seat; a support member transversely across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a rod extending axially of said tubular member and freely through said support member; a ball secured to the inner end of the rod; a stop on the rod outwardly of the support member; spring means extending between the support member and the stop to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said ball on said valve seat; a foraminous basket carried on the outer end of the rod and arranged to move the rod longitudinally inwardly when the basket is moved inwardly longitudinally of the tubular member; a centering device removably inserted into said basket and including a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes with one of the tubes being axial of the basket and arranged to receive the outer end of the rod and limit the lateral movement of the basket relative to the rod; and

catch means on the tubular member for releasably holding the basket in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space the ball away from the valve seat.

4. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be received fixedly and coaxially in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the door and the inner end of said member provided with an annular valve seat; a support member transversely across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a rod extending axially of said tubular member and freely through said support member; a ball secured to the inner end of the rod; a first stop on the rod outwardly of the support member; spring means extending between the support member and the stop to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said ball on said valve seat; a second stop on said rod inwardly of the support member and adjustably positionable thereon to limit the outward movement of the rod and limit resultingly the compressional force on the ball against the valve seat exerted by the spring means; a foraminous member carried on the outer end of the rod and arranged to move the rod longitudinally inwardly when the foraminous member is moved inwardly longitudinally of the tubular member; and catch means on the tubular member for releasably holding the foraminous member in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space the ball away from the valve seat.

S. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be received fixedly and co-axially in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the floor and the inner end of said member provided with an annular valve seat; a support member transversely across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a threaded rod extending axially of said tubular member and freely through said support member; a ball secured to the inner end of the rod; a first stop-nut on the rod outwardly of the support member; spring means extending between the support member and the stop to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said ball on said valve seat; a foraminous member carried on the outer end of the rod and arranged to move the rod longitudinally in wardly when the foraminous member is moved inwardly longitudinally of the tubular member; a second stop-nut adjustably threaded on the rod inwardly of the support member for limiting the outward movement of the rod; and catch means on the tubular member for releasably holding the foraminous member in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space the ball away from the valve seat.

6. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular member adapted to be received fixedly and co-axially in a floor drain with the outer end of said member being substantially flush with the floor and the inner end of said member provided with an annular valve seat; a support member transversely across said tubular member intermediate its ends; a threaded rod extending axially of said tubular member and freely through said support member; a ball secured to the inner end of the rod; a stop-nut adjustably threaded on the rod outwardly of the support member; spring means extending between the support member and the stop to urge the rod longitudinally outwardly and seat said ball on said valve seat; a foraminous member carried on the outer end of the rod against the stop-nut to extend to outwardly of the tubular member and arranged to move the rod longitudinally inwardly when the foraminous member is moved inwardly longitudinally of the tubular member; and catch means on the tubular member outer end for releasably holding the foraminous member in a longitudinally inner position with the rod positioned to space the ball away from the valve seat.

7. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular housing member arranged to be secured fixedly in the end of a floor drain; a valve at the inner end of the housing member acting alternatively to close and open the fioor drain; biasing means within said housing member to urge said valve closed; and foot-pedal means operably associated with the valve and releasably engageable with the housing mem her for catching the valve open when desired, said foot pedal means having an exposed outer portion substan tially flush with the outer end of the housing member at all times.

8. In a fitting for use in a floor drain, a strainer comprising a foraminous basket having a cylindrical side wall, a transverse bottom and an open top, and a. center guide member including a plurality of tubes extending side by side, parallel to and within said side wall, and means for spacing the inner ends of said tubes above said bottom with the outer ends thereof being substantially flush with said top, said center guide being freely separable from said basket.

9. The fitting device of claim 8 wherein the tubes are fixedly secured to each other.

10. The fitting device of claim 8 wherein the tubes are fixedly secured to each other and a tubular enclosure is provided laterally surrounding said tubes and having an outwise diameter less than the diameter of said side wall thereby forming an annular space between said enclosure and side Wall, with said means for spacing the tube inner ends extending longitudinally through said annular space.

11. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular housing member arranged to be secured fixedly in the end of a floor drain to form an extension thereof; a valve at the inner end of the housing member acting alternatively to close and open the drain; a strainer across the outer end of the housing member; means connecting the strainer to the valve for movement with the valve longitudinally of the housing member; and means on the housing member to catch the strainer and hold the valve open when desired.

12. A fitting of the character described for use in a floor drain, comprising: a tubular housing member arranged to be secured fixedly in the end of a floor drain to form an extension thereof; a valve co-operating with the housing member alternatively to close and open the drain; a strainer across the outer end of the housing member; means connecting the strainer to the valve for movement with the valve longitudinally of the housing member; and means on the housing member to catch the strainer and hold the valve open when desired.

13. The fitting of claim 12 wherein means are provided for adjustably biasing the valve to the drain closing disposition.

14. The fitting of claim 13 wherein means are provided for effecting the disposition of the strainer across the outer end of the housing member irrespective of the adjustment of the biasing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 790,743 Park May 23, 1905 1,211,283 Butler Jan. 2, 1917 1,306,150 Kessler lune 10, 1919 2,246,390 Smith June 17, 1941 2,504,474 Van Oss Apr. 18, 1950 2,524,501 Wilhelm Oct. 3, 1950 2,531,721 Brock Nov. 28, 1950 2,787,376 Coulson Apr. 2, 1957 

